On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Balanced scoring, defense spark Green Bay--MICentralSports.com
Mid-Majority Chat Block, Episode 712--The Mid-Majority

[Comment From Tyler (Indianapolis) Tyler (Indianapolis) : ]
Any thoughts on where the Horizon League Tourney will be held this year? Normally they're selling tickets at Hinkle by now and calling it the Butler Invitational. (sarcasm) Butler can't seem to play 40 solid minutes... and it's really pissing me off. Well, on the bright side, everyone loves a wide open race, right?
Friday January 28, 2011 4:32 Tyler (Indianapolis)
4:35

Can I say the Wohlstein Center? It seems like a lot of folks have forgotten about Cleveland State. The Vikings had a bad weekend (okay, a realllly bad weekend), but they haven't lost at home and have been on an anger-fueled romping spree since early January. Probably the most dangerous thing about them is that it's not all Norris lately. You have guys like Harmon and Montgomery who are coming in and scoring 20 points.
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[Comment From Dan Dan : ]
Kyle, I just want to thank you for writing about Alumni Gym and taking in a volleyball game there. I never saw a basketball game there either, but when I was a student there, I used to love standing in that old gym and imagining the history that happened there. They say the 2nd deck and the rafters would shake during Rambler wins because of all the students jumping up and down. What's your opinion about maintaining historic old gyms vs tearing them down for newer arenas with no character?
Friday January 28, 2011 4:41 Dan
4:43

You're welcome and thank you. I think Loyola has done this right, even if they didn't specifically plan it that way: they moved in to the new place and kept the old one for other sports for 15 years. It would still be standing next year if there wasn't a space issue (it's the North Side of Chicago and there isn't unlimited room). There have been other schools that did it that way, Temple comes to mind. My opinion is that it's inevitable and that we should enjoy the old ones while we can.
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[Comment From John L (Rochester, MI) John L (Rochester, MI) : ]
My girlfriend lives in Baltimore and I live in Michigan. She wants me to move out there. I'm unsure so I'm weighing the pros and cons. In Michigan I have my two alma maters: Oakland and Western Michigan. I also have the future: Central Michigan with Trey Zeigler and Detroit Mercy with Ray McCallum. In Baltimore I have an unknown. What should I do?
Friday January 28, 2011 4:49 John L (Rochester, MI)
4:50

If you're considering moving because of a girl, basketball should not be part of the equation. If you love her, do it. If you have doubts, don't. Either way, Detroit and CMU are usually available on #pixelvision (which is in fact an aphrodisiac).

The Other 26: Week 11--Rush The Court
Set Your Tivo: 01.28-01.30--Rush The Court

Butler @ Valparaiso – 2 pm Saturday on ESPN FullCourt/ESPN3.com (**)

It’s a surprise but Valpo is actually ahead of Butler in the Horizon League standings by a game. The Crusaders are led by the tandem of Brandon Wood and Cory Johnson who combine for 44% of the team’s total offensive output. You should know, though, that Wood is questionable for this game with a hamstring injury and Valparaiso is banged up in a few places. While a few of the other injured players should play, Homer Drew really needs Wood in this game if he’s able to go. The amazing thing about Butler is their offense has actually improved over last year (#50 to #28) but their defensive efficiency has fallen off a cliff. It’s been one of the biggest mysteries in all of college basketball, but the Bulldogs are rated #124 in defensive efficiency after ranking #5 last year. That’s what propelled them to the championship game. Butler is highly porous inside and that’s where Valpo does most of its damage (53% FG). If Matt Howard and company can’t stop the Crusaders inside, the home folks will win.

Friday's Pregame Beat: Previewing your college hoops weekend--Ballin' is a Habit

BEST STORYLINES

Saturday
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* 2:00 pm: Butler @ Valpo: This is a huge game in the Horizon League standings. Believe it or not, Butler is third in the Horizon right now. Valpo is tied for first in the loss column.

Slaughterhouse Saturday--College Basketball Blog

It's too much carnage to count.

Four teams ranked in top 10 in the polls lost Saturday, but the damage done extends so far beyond that, I don't have time to get into it in one post. For space's sake, I'll neglect to mention any result that's already been discussed on the blog earlier today. And most of the teams, like Ohio State, who were ranked and somehow managed to escape with a win, here's your kudos. Can't waste letters on you for doing what you're supposed to. Let's get to all those bad losses!

Most of the noteworthy and newsworthy trangressions can be found below:
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— Oh, I’m still going. Butler — Butler! Newman! — is now out of the at-large conversation in light of losing 85-79 on the road to Valpo, falling to 14-8. Valparaiso and Cleveland State have the Horizon fates in their hands.

College Basketball On TV For January 29, 2011--Blogging the Bracket

Mid-Afternoon (ET)
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Laptop: Butler Bulldogs at Valparaiso Crusaders, Horizon League Network/WNDY/WWRD/CSN Chicago/STO/ESPN3/Full Court (2 p.m. ET)
The Crusaders are still looking for their first ever win over the Bulldogs in Horizon League play, and this is their best chance since they joined the conference in the 2007-08 season. Valpo is tied with Cleveland State in the loss column for the league lead (the Vikings are at 4-6 Loyola-Chicago this afternoon), and Butler is tied for third along with Wright State.
KenPom.com prediction: Crusaders 69-68, 65 poss.

College Basketball On TV For January 30, 2011--Blogging the Bracket

Wright St. Raiders at Milwaukee Panthers, TWC 32/Horizon League Network (2 p.m. ET)
The Raiders look to stay a game behind Horizon co-leaders Cleveland State and Valparaiso.
KenPom.com prediction: Raiders 63-62, 62 poss.

Monson: Quit freaking out — the Jazz are good--Salt Lake Tribune

Were there prognosticators, even among the most optimistic, coming into this season who believed the Jazz would roll through the elite teams in the league?

Negatory on that one, too.

The Jazz offloaded Carlos Boozer, they lost Wesley Matthews, a bigger deal than it seemed, and Kyle Korver, and Mehmet Okur was gone to injury. They got Al Jefferson, Raja Bell, and Gordon Hayward. Chances were decent they were going to be better at some point — just being free from the baggage that came alongside Boozer’s scoring.